HomeProvider StoriesPatients want to get better; providers want to keep patients Patients want to get better; providers want to keep patients July 10, 2017 Catherine Poulos, NP “Patients want to get better; healthcare providers want to keep their patients.” Read the transcript My name is Catherine Poulos, I’m a Delta Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, board certified. I see a variety of patients, I have patients I’m treating for depression and anxiety, ADHD, schizophrenia, mood disorders, it’s pretty diverse. My biggest challenge is trying to find the right medication for the right patient at the right dosage, most certainly. Before I used the GeneSight testing my method for practicing was similar to getting a dartboard and trying to throw the dart and see whether or not it would stick and whether or not the patient would actually have some results from the medication. To date my experience with the genetic testing being paid by insurance companies, predominantly Medicaid and Medicare are very receptive in paying for it. It actually helps also to facilitate getting products or medications that were not normally covered on the plans to now being accepted on the plans. So it gives me a tool to fight for the patient, you know, to have the appropriate medication for them that’s going to get them, you know, stabilized. What convinced me for the efficacy of GeneSight, was I actually saw, when I looked at the clinical data that GeneSight actually conducted, they had four predominant studies. And it showed how 70% of the patients that were using genetic testing actually got to stabilization a lot quicker versus treatment as usual and that dartboard mentality. So what ended up happening is, I actually saw that with my patients, you know, their data was coming to true to life with my population. GeneSight has really helped me prescribing medications appropriately for my patients because there were so many varieties of things that I can choose from. What GeneSight has helped me to do is actually pulled it down to the ones that will be specifically appropriate for that patient. What’s wonderful about that is they’re returning back to work sooner, they’re getting out of their homes, they’re enjoying their lives. They’re actually having the quality of life that they deserve to have, readily faster than me trying to guess that. What I would tell a physician why I think genetic testing is appropriate and GeneSight testing is appropriate to use, it’s a tool. This is another tool, similar to a blood test. And if we can use a blood test to find out whether or not they’ve got, you know, a disease disorder, why not use genetic testing that’s going to tell us what medications are best to treat their disorders? It’s similar as that. 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Patient Rooting for Mental Health Heroes at the 2026 Winter Olympics The Winter Olympics has brought us unforgettable moments—Miracle on Ice, Torvill and Dean’s Bolero, the Jamaican bobsled team. They also showed heartbreak: cras... Read more
Healthcare Provider PRIME Care Time-to-Event Analysis In 2022, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) undertook the Precision Medicine in Mental Health Care, or PRIME Care study, the largest phar... Read more
Patient Healthcare Provider The GeneSight® Test: Announces New Updates As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our tests evolve with the latest scientific research and clinical needs, we’ve updated the GeneSight Test. Th... Read more
Patient Is “Anxiety” on Your Playlist? “Anxiety, keep on tryin' me I feel it quietly, tryna silence me, yeah Anxiety, shake it off of me Somebody's watchin' me, it's my anxiety, yeah (Brrah) …And... Read more
Patient Break the resolution cycle: How simple solutions can transform 2026 Like every year, many of us make New Year’s resolutions and try to stick to them, but broad, all-or-nothing changes often set us up for failure and can make... Read more
Patient Antidepressant Fatigue in Seniors: A Caregiver’s Guide to Reducing Daytime Sleepiness Without Losing Symptom Control You’re spending time with the older adult in your care who also happens to have clinical depression. You’re keeping tabs on how well they’re doing and wheth... Read more
Patient Empowering Senior Patient Care with Pharmacogenomics: Insights from the GeneSight Engage Webinar The most recent GeneSight Engage webinar explored how pharmacogenomic testing, particularly the GeneSight® test, is transforming the landscape of mental health ... Read more
Patient BIPOC (formerly Minority) Mental Health Month: Breaking Stigma, Building Trust Despite many efforts to stem it, stigma around mental health still exists, particularly in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. July mark... Read more
Patient Long-Term Effects of Antidepressants: What Research Shows Anyone who’s ever taken antidepressants for an extended period of time has probably wondered whether they’ll experience long-term effects: After years ... Read more
Patient Have a Mindful Summer: Take a Breather with These Simple Exercises Summer is a great time to kick back and relax—if you can find the time. Managing the hustle and bustle of kids off school, planning for fun summer activities an... Read more